Atlantic Division
1. Boston Celtics
The Celtics are not a team that's going to dominate in the regular season. In fact, if it was up to them the regular season would be abolished all together and we would just skip right to the playoffs. Bringing in Shaq and Jermaine O'neal gives them much more big man depth which they desperately needed in last year's finals. Even without Perkins the Celtics came within 6 minutes of a championship. Although I strongly feel that they're not the most talented team in the east, they're still not the team that I would want to go up against in the playoffs. The bottom line is they know how to get it done when it counts. Their win total will be in the low to mid 50s, and they're not really going to turn it on until the playoffs roll around like last year.
2. New York Knicks
The Knicks brought in all star power forward Amar'e Stoudemire this summer in hopes that he's going to push them to a greater height. They were wrong. The only reason they're number two in the Atlantic division is because it's the worst division in the NBA. They will be in the mix for the 8th spot towards the end of the season but they're not going to make any noise if they get into the playoffs.
3. Philadelphia 76ers
I was tempted to put the Sixers ahead of the Knicks here but I feel like New York has a better overall team. Like the Knicks, the Sixers are going to be in the mix for one of the final playoff spots and it's really a toss up on who gets in. One thing is for certain. Once they get in they're going to be obliterated upon arrival so it almost serves them better not to get in and hope for a miracle in the lottery.
4. New Jersey Nets
The Nets aren't going to be anywhere near the crappy team they were last year. They certainly won't be a good team by any stretch of the imagination but it would be nearly impossible for them to play that badly again. With Derrick Favors now in the fold and Brook Lopez a year better I think the Nets will be in the 25-35 win range.
5. Toronto Raptors
Losing Chris Bosh and Hedo Turkoglu while getting practically nothing back kills the Raptors. I think they're going to struggle immensely this year and the hate for Bosh in Toronto is going to get a lot more severe.
Central Division
1. Chicago Bulls
The addition of Carlos Boozer, Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, CJ Watson and Kenny Thomas is going to catapult the Bulls right into contention for the Eastern Conference crown. This team lost all of its big contributors to major injuries at one point last season and they still ended up with a .500 record. Derrick Rose being a year better and Joakim Noah starting to come around on offense, I see the Bulls making some big time noise in the playoffs this year. I love the swagger this team is carrying themselves with right now. The Miami Heat don't scare this team for one second, in Noah's own words, "We're going to come up and take what they want." Carlos Boozer give them an inside scoring presence and Kyle Korver will help stretch the floor for Rose to operate. It's a great time to be a Bulls fan.
2. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are going to be one of two extremes this season. Either they're going to continue to progress and challenge the Bulls or they're going to be a huge disappointment. They ended last season smoking hot and came within one game of knocking off the Atlanta Hawks. All signs point them in the right direction but I'm still skeptical. When I look at their roster I'm not convinced they can go toe to toe with the Bulls, Celtics, Heat, or Magic. John Salmons played much better than he is and he was a huge reason why they were so successful. Locking up Drew Gooden to a big contract was one of the most idiotic front office moves I've ever seen. The Bucks will come second in the central and make the playoffs but I don't see them going far.
3. Indiana Pacers
The trade to land Darren Collison from the New Orleans Hornets was an absolute masterpiece. He's not going to be a superstar but he's a legitimately good point guard to have on almost any team. He could start on every team other than the Bulls, Celtics, Hornets, Jazz, or Suns. The Pacers will be a middle of the pack team and they'll contend for a playoff spot and I just have a hunch that they're going to get it. And if Roy Hibbert starts to come around the odds will get a lot better.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
Losing LeBron James puts the Cavs far away from where they were last year. Even without that spoiled brat the Cavs are still going to contend for a playoff spot in the east. To me it's a toss up right now between the Cavs and Pacers. I gave the Pacers the edge because they haven't had anywhere near the distractions the Cavs have had. Regardless of who will be higher in the standings, their records will be pretty similar.
5. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons are the most dysfunctional team in the NBA right now. They have about a billion guards and no inside presence to speak up. Frankly, I will be stunned if they're anywhere near the playoff race this year. Signing Tracy McGrady? I think the front office is just screwing around at this point.
Southeast Division
1. Miami Heat
No shocker here. Even if the Heat are not as successful as many believe, they will still beat out the Magic for the division. Let's throw away our jealousy and be honest, if this team plays unselfishly there is no way anyone is going to stop them. Yes, they have depth problems. But they also have two of the best four players in the game right now. When that's the case there is no excuse not to hold the championship trophy come June.
2. Orlando Magic
The Magic have lost their stranglehold on the southeast and they are now the second best team in Florida for the first time since 2005. They will have a chance to come out of the east but I don't think they have enough scoring. Dwight Howard has no offensive game and that's going to be their downfall once again this year.
3. Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks haven't done anything to get better and as a result I think they're going to end up taking a step backwards. The Bulls have leapfrogged them and now the Hawks find themselves out of the top four. They will make the playoffs comfortably but I don't think they're going to escape the first round.
4. Charlotte Bobcats
The Bobcats are another team that will be in the playoff hunt and I like their chances. However, if they do get in they're going to be knocked out in four games so I wouldn't be too excited if I was a Bobcats fan.
5. Washington Wizards
I'm very excited to see how John Wall plays in his rookie season. Whether he plays well or not, the Wizards are still going nowhere. The addition of Kirk Hinrich gives them some more defensive prowess but they just don't have anywhere near enough offensive firepower to contend for anything.
2011 playoff seedings:
1. Miami Heat
2. Orlando Magic
3. Chicago Bulls
4. Boston Celtics
5. Atlanta Hawks
6. Milwaukee Bucks
7. Charlotte Bobcats
8. Indiana Pacers
1st Round: Heat vs Pacers (Heat win in 4), Magic vs Bobcats (Magic win in 4), Bulls vs Bucks (Bulls win in 6), Celtics vs Hawks (Celtics win in 5)
The Bucks will give the Bulls some trouble but for the most part no first round series is going to be close.
2nd Round: Heat vs Celtics (Heat win in 6), Magic vs Bulls (Bulls win in 7)
The series between the Heat and Celtics is extremely hard to predict. I think the Heat would come out on top but I also thought the Cavs were going to knock off the Celtics in last year's playoffs. They can really get it done when it counts but in this case I need to go with the more talented team, which is also very debatable. Dwight Howard will give the Bulls problems but I love the way the Bulls match up with the Magic and I think this is the Bulls' year to finally make some noise in the playoffs.
Eastern Conference Finals: Heat vs Bulls (Heat win in 6)
Expect this to be a heated rivalry in the next 5 years. The Heat have so much talent and athleticism that I'm not quite sure how other teams are going to deal with it. Again, their success all depends on their style of play. If they play selfishly they won't get by the Celtics, but if they play like a team there is no way they will be beaten in a 7 game series.
NBA Finals: Heat vs Lakers (Heat win in 7)
The Lakers will come within one game of a 3peat but they will be denied on the Heat's home floor. The best record in the league will get the Heat home court advantage which will be the deciding factor of this series.
